Rejection Hurts On Both Sides

Chapter 10: And So Does My Funeral

Chapter 10: And So Does My Funeral

As soon as Vice-Principal Hawkins ushers us into his office, I take a seat on one of the chairs. Rayne takes the seat beside me, his eyes wide with nervousness. I on the other hand, sit there with an eerie sense of calmness as I stare at the pictures adorning Mr. Hawkins’ wall. My features are schooled into one of serenity.

But in the inside, I am anything but.

WHY THE HECK IS THIS HAPPENING?!

I won’t lie- I’ve been in the Mr. Hawkins’ office loads of times for things I was accused of.

But at least those allegations were real.

Spilling coffee on Miss Fisher? That was accidental, but I don’t regret it.

Setting off the fire alarm? Check.

Pelting the seniors’ lockers with rotten eggs? Guilty.

Starting a food fight? Not even going to deny it.

Editing Vice-Principal Hawkins’s face onto a pig’s butt and sending it to the student body? Pure genius, if you ask me.

To be fair, it’s a miracle I haven’t been expelled yet. I suppose I have my mother to thank for. After all, she does possess the ability of-

“Miss Perez!”

I blink out of my reverie. “Hm?”

Vice-Principal Hawkins glares at me as he sits behind his desk. “Did you not hear what I said?”

“Uh… you were saying something about hormonal teenagers?” I offer.

A vein on his temple bulges. He sighs, trying to be patient. “This is the last time I’ll repeat myself.” His eyes narrow. “What were the both of you doing in the girls’ bathroom?”

“Well-”

“We weren’t doing anything!” Rayne blurts out before I can continue answering. “Mr. Hawkins, it was just a teeny, tiny, misunderstanding.”

Cue the face-palm. Only he could say the thing that would make our situation worse.

Mr. Hawkins raises a brow, unimpressed. “Both of you emerged from the same bathroom while Mr. Alders was looking like that.” He gestures to the Rayne’s messed up hair and his unbuttoned shirt, causing Rayne to hurriedly button it up. “This must have been quite the misunderstanding.” His voice is dripping with sarcasm.

Kids, don’t underestimate your elders- sarcasm is a language adults use sparingly, but effectively.

“Rayne’s telling the truth, sir,” I say politely (don’t look at me like that- I can be polite, you know). “It wasn’t what it looked like.”

Our vice principal eyes me with something akin to suspicion. “Miss Perez, if you are trying to hide your relationsh-”

“Okay, stop right there,” I interrupt him. “With all due respect, Mr. Hawkins, I am not in a relationship with Rayne, nor do I wish to. He might have the potential to be cute, but he is an arrogant, flirty, thick-headed, vain son of a-”

“We get it.” Rayne cuts me off, his whole face reddening. “Just- what’s your point?”

I clear my throat. “My point is, if Mr. Hawkins at least gave us the chance to explain, he would be able to understand why you were in the girls’ bathroom, therefore removing all thoughts that I would be dating you.”